APHELION (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Geography)

Context: This year, Earth reached aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, on July 6th, marking its annual orbital milestone.

Aphelion

• About: It occurs around July 4 each year when Earth is farthest from the Sun, approximately 152.5 million kilometers away.
• Perihelion: It happens around January 3 annually, marking the closest point between Earth and the Sun at about 147.5 million kilometers.
• Elliptical Orbit: Earth's orbit around the Sun is elliptical due to gravitational interactions, causing varying distances between them.
• Kepler's Laws: Johannes Kepler's laws of planetary motion, formulated in the 17th century, describe how planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun at one focus.
• Aphelion Day 2023: According to Kepler's laws, Earth's distance from the Sun fluctuates, culminating in Aphelion Day.
• Circular Orbit Consequences: If Earth's orbit were perfectly circular, seasons would be more uniform in length.
• Eccentric Orbit Impact: Increased eccentricity could lead to extreme seasonal variations, affecting climates and potentially causing agricultural challenges.